Cirrus

Mom thought she was getting a short haired cat!  Ha, ha!

Cirrus was born 3/15/98 and passed on 9/7/10.  We adopted him from a shelter with "brother" Nimbus (a gray, half Russian Blue that my husband picked).  I wanted a shorthaired brown tabby who would be a big cat.  None of the tabbies that day were very responsive - but for one, who came up to my hand and looked eager.  He had big feet and was labeled "domestic medium hair." His cage mate was a shorthaired black cat. Never having owned a cat, I didn't take great notice that Mr. Tabby's tail was already a bit fluffy.  But those cute ear tips! How bad could "medium hair" be?  At least he wouldn't be one of those long-haired cats....oops....

Fast forward a few months.  Cirrus, named for the wisps of hair in his ears, lost some of his mackerel striping as his dark guard hairs grew - and then his neck got a bit fluffy - he already had a feather duster tail.  It was then I realized I had a part Maine Coon - with LONG HAIR!  Too late - I was in love with Big Stuff Cirrus.

Over time he proved to be quite the Serious Cirrus.  Always an anxious, reluctant watch cat; he hated to be covered or hidden and spent most of his years in our Eichler home's living room (with two glass walls to see out of).  Grew out of most toys by one year (except for chasing a feather toy through a tunnel).

He looked the Maine part but his personality was from his other mystery half (as was his nails-on-chalkboard wail).

Nimbus preceded Cirrus in death by a year and a half.  Cirrus had a wonderful final year with newbie Novaya, who never got to be more than 8 lbs and was a mosquito whirling around him.  She actually got the old guy playing again.

After losing Cirrus unexpectedly, we adopted a solid black guy named Java who was on the [MCA] site.  Allegedly part Maine, he has none of the fur length and looks quite the domestic short hair.  He may have been a "courtesy post", but he chirps and chirps like a Maine and is very goofy in play.  He's just under a year old and is 12-3/4 lbs with stocky legs.   We love him, but I find myself strangely missing the longer haired look!  Thank you, Cirrus, for gracing us with your presence for 12-1/2 years.

I had to honor him by enabling the welfare of more Maine Coons and part Maines like him.

— Chris